One of my part-time jobs is substitute teaching, and it’s cool. I really get a pulse of how the world is continually renovating itself as I’m inside a new generation of children, who are all looking for their place in the world. The kids even are helping to give me energy, as I try and try and TRY to get them to attain a higher focus. And, even though in essence, I’m there to get paid, I always keep in mind that I am in a position where I have the ability to influence a student’s life; and I don’t take that for granted.
Walking to my car, after my last class of the day. In the silence of the mild breeze of wind, cooled from the morning rain. While walking, I was actually thinking on things I needed to get done, places I needed to go, books I needed to study, and anything else I had planned on doing for today. All of a sudden, I got a revelation that helped to explain to myself, one out of many reasons that place me in the present position I am in life. My potential for success or excellence, in any thing I desire to do, is directly related to how many things I’m trying to get done. For example, if I want to be a great student, then that means I can’t be a great employee and be the best friend to my friends. I have to sacrifice something. I could be an o.k. student, a pretty good employee, and a good friend, but I couldn’t be the best at any one of them unless I made the choice to sacrifice something in my life. I don’t want to be just o.k., I want to be excellent at something. That’s just me.
I’ve always pondered on the various reasons, or thought on all the factors which has led me to the life I now live; and then, I try to think on how I could’ve done things better, or I can better recognize the things in life I could and couldn’t control. Because I feel, if I know what I did wrong, then I can at least get some wisdom from that knowledge, and maybe I could help give some life-gained wisdom to someone else.
It’s hard to work several jobs, then doing everything you can do to search for a better one, trying to maintain all of your relationships. Then imagine if you’re doing all of that, and you have kids? Or what if you’re doing all of that, you have kids, and you are also going to school. That’s tough. Man… as I look back in time, I would say this is a fact: “The people who are focused enough to simplify their priorities in life, are more likely to achieve their few goals more so, than a person who’s trying to do everything that comes and goes.” Multi-tasking is for those who don’t have to focus on their bank account, not for those who are working hard everyday trying to stay focused.
James 1:5-8 NASB — 5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Altogether, I guess in the silence of my day, my thoughts became so clear to where I saw this without actually thinking about it. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will choose speak to you more clearly, when you are quiet and still; just like God spoke to Elijah in the below scripture reference.
1 Kings 19:11-13 NLT — 11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
